Retort



l. H. DERBY Aug. 9, 1932.

RETORT Filed March 6, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l dixo/magi( maw l. H. DERBY Aug. 9, 1932.

RETORT Filed March 6,' 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 mwN man,

3 Sheets-Sheefl RETORT l. H. DERBY Filed March 6,' 1929 Aug. 9, 1932.

2.3.5 in past practice.

entre srres IRA H. DERBY, or YIIvDILAIvAIOLIS, INDIANA, `AssIerivor.V To PETER c. REILLY, oF

INnIANAroLIsINDIANA Y v rice i RETORT Application led March 6, 1929..' Serial No. 344,797.

This invention relates to a device, which, because it involves some of the characteristics of a still, and some of the characteristics of a retort, and because itis rotated to carry '1 .5 out the process of my copending application SerialNo. 844,796 led March 6, 1929 I shall designate as arotary still retort.

The application above mentioned relates to a process of distilling fluent materials, the

l0 process, generally stated, comprising the distillation of 'liquids or granular-solidsyor a -mixture of the two,vin a retort, preferably cylindrical, theretort being rotated preferably on its longitudinal axis during the dis- 115 tillingoperation, and the speed of rotation being such that the material is distributed in a relatively thin layer on the cylindrical walls of the retort. plished are :29 Thel thickness of material is reduced and .12..5 transfer is accelerated, iirst, by the rapidmo-V tion of the exterior of thestill in contact with the hot gases, and, second, by theflow of the charge, in casev of liquids, vover the internal Y surface of the still. In the case of liquid 339 charges, the tendency tov foam,which heretofore has imposed very serious limitations on the rate of heating, is almost entirely suppressed by centrifugal force, thus eliminating a serious source oftrouble encountered In the case of fluent granular solids, the dust generated during the distilling operation is retained adjacent to the wall of the still by centrifugal action instead of passing oifin suspension with the volatile ...4.9 products, as heretofore.

The present vapplicationis directed to the structural details'ofthe mechanism by which the process above identified may be carried out' commercially. v i Y `Generally stated, the apparatus includes la cylindrical shell, which forms the still or retorhwhichis mounted on rotating heads by means of a shrink fit.` As an incident to this construction, means are provided to chill the 5 heads to shrink vthem away from` the'shell The purposes accomprior to withdrawal. There is also a device which supports the shell during and after'the withdrawal of the heads, and which may be operatedto shiftthe shell to a position'in which the coke residue mayy be removed.

The device .is .applicable to processes in which the material is treated. at pressures other than atmospheric, or'in which steam or other gases or vapors are passed throughthe still. t 'no Other features yof the .invention 'are,

specialmeans. forcharging the still or retort either with solids or with liquids, andy means for condensing 'and recovering waxesk and oils whichv pass otl' Vfrom the still in a vapor state. et

In the drawings certain incidental or accessory apparatus has been omitted .orZ only partially shown in order to Vsimplify the illustration. The drawings arefthus confined to the fundamental or essential elements makj() ing up the still-retort.

'In the drawings,- l v Fig.V 1 is an elevation, largely in vertical axial section, showing the complete device.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1. Figi. 3 is a plany view, Vpartly in section on the axis of the rotary still. Fig. 4f is a sectionon theline f-lofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a view, similar toFig. 3, but showingthevheads withdrawn from the shelland the shell rotated .to position for the discharge of the coke residue.' w

Fig. 6 is a` detail inlongitudinal section of a charging tube with conveyor, which mayV be used to; charge the device with granular material.KY l j Fig. 7 is a detail viewshowing aI portion of the mechanism'for controllingthe axial po- A sition of the shafts, and thus controlling the` advance andretra'ction of the heads of .thel still. .f

11 represents Athe furnace', chamberwhich is enclosed by a. metal shell l2 having alining 13 of refractory material. This shell may be Y heated internally in any suitable manner, but 95 Iprefer. and illustrate .gas burnersl '14 vby au Y .which the gas generated in the distilling opnsl atand pass 0H throughany suitable offthe rotary retort, hereinafter described, isl brought into.- alinementwith'these 4extensions to permit the passage'of a rammerffo'r the.VA

"collecting them.

l purpose of ejecting the charge, 'andM in some cases toreceive a charge, notably when the charge is inserted as a cartridge. Obviously the material, either granular or liquid, might be inserted in the form of a cartridge which isdisrupted by heat. f

The extensionv 16 is provided with a hinged door 18, while the extension 17 is closedy by a head`19. A rammer head 21 is vii'iounted on a plunger 22 which` maybe shifted in the 1direction of its axis soasto traversethe head 21 in alinementwith the common axis of the position of'Fig. 5. `A gland 23 vmay be provided to prevent leakage of gas from the fur-v nace'chamber 11. `Alined with eachother and coaxial with the cylindrical furnace chamber 11 'are two shafts 24 and`25. :Both these shafts are hollow,.as illustrated. 'T he shaft24 is supported in a long bearing 26 and the shaft 25 -issupported in'Y two such bearings 27 andv 28, spaced apart to confine between vthem a sleeve 29 which carries a sprocket wheel 31. The sprocket wheel 31 is .splined at 32 to the shaft 25. It follows that thel sprocket 31 may drive the shaft 25 without restricting the freedom` of the shaft 25 to move longitudinally in AVtion between the shafts 24 and 25,r and their its bearings. Power is transmitted from a motor 33 through a sprocket 34and chain35. Any equivalent driving means might be ysuhstituted. 1 Y W Y l' The' shaft 25 has a' reduced extension 3 6 which extends beyond the bearing 28 and turns in stuffing boxes 37 and 38 at the points where it passesV throughy the' walls of the chamber 39.- The end oftheshaftis plugged at'41.v Similarly the shaft 24 has a reduced ,extension 42 beyond the bearing 26-andthis passes: through va chamber V43'similar to the chamberr39 andmakes tight 'j oints therewith yhyV means of the stuiiiiig boxes-44.x The end ofthe shaftvis plugged 'at 45, the plug being removable, as in the case o-f the plug 41.

I Either-orboth ofthechanibers 39, 43, may

be p rovided'with means -f'orv charging liquid through Vthe `hollow shaftorffor withdrawing volatile products flowing out through the 39j and 43 the extensions 36 'and'V 42 areformed' with lateral ports The retort is made up cylindrical `shell 56 having annular reinforcing thickenedpo'rtions 57 at its two ends.

the same reference numerals 48 leading froma liquid reservoir 49, which connection is controlled by valve 51. Leading from the top of the chamber 43 is a connection 52 which leads to a condensingvcoilr 53 enclosed in a chamber54 through Vwhich the cooling -liqu'idV may be circulated.' Any. material, such as oils orwaxes, condensed in vthe coil 531nay be collected in a receptacle 55, or any equivalent means may be usedvr for of an open ended Within these thickened portions the shell 56 receivestwo hollow heads 58, whichare identical with each other, 'andone `of which'. is

fixedly 'mounted on theinner end of the shaft 24 andthe other ofwhich' is hxedly` mounted onthe inner end of the shaft 25: f

' The reason for makingthe headsi58 .hollow is to permit the circulation through them of a cooling fluid, such as steaml or steam charged with water, at those times when itis desired to shrink the heads away from. the shell.VV Connections for effecting the circula.- tion are established temporarily `'by means hereinafterV described.l d 1 After the heads havel been shrunk theyl are retracted from' the shell 56 by moving'the shafts 24 andV 25 longitudinally outward from the chamber 11.. The mechanism Afor accomplishing this. function is identical in the case of the shaft 24 and the shaft25 and reduced extensions 42 and 36. j l

` vThreaded in the two'opposite ends of each yoke 61 are two leadIsCreWs which arel swiveled at their opposite ends 64 in a. frame structure 65- which sustains-the entire mecha.-V nism. The leadfscrews 63 are connectedtorotate in unison by a sprocket chain A66 which runs on twosprockets 67 of equal size, one mounted on each lead screw.'n Ahand vwheel 68 isprovidedto tur-n .one and therefore both the lead screws.

The hollow heads 58 are ported,A as indicated at 71,'to receive two nozzles 72 which are mounted in guides-73, so as to be capable of longitudinal motion into and out of sealingV engagement with the ports .71. rvrllhese will be applied 46, 47. Overlying the port 47 is a connection are the nozzles through which the cooling medium' above mentioned is'` circulated` and this liquid is fedvin and withdrawn, through respective flexible'tubes '74rand 75. mechanism is identical for each of the heads '58,'and the part-s are similarly numbered in the two, instances. 1

This

iso

Vof the retort.

heads, the shell 56 which is normally sustained by the heads, must be otherwise sup- -portedf For this purpose I make use ofa In some cases it may prove inexpedient to insert the charge in the form of a cartridge, or to feed liquid material in through one y of the rota-ry shafts, which is usually the preferred operation, and to meet such a contingency I may make use of a charging tube, illustrated in Fig. 6. This in inserted longitudinally through either of the shafts 24, 25, after removing the end plug 45 o-r 4l, as the case may be. Such a tube is YindicatedV at 81. It is of such a diameter that it may pass through the hollow bore of the shaft, and when fully inserted will extend substantially to the far end of the retort. It is provided with a feeding'hopper 82 and a longitudinal screw conveyor element 83, which may be rotated by any suitable means typified by the hand crank 84. In charging with this device the charging tube is inserted so that it discharges the material at the far end of the reto-rt, and is then gradually withdrawn while discharging the material, so as to distribute this throughout the entire length The retort should be rotated during this o-peration. At the completion of charging the tube is withdrawn and the end plug reinserted in the shaft.

The operation may be summarized as follows:

The retort may be charged in any one of the several different ways suggested, depending on the particular material being charged.

'That is to say, the liquid may be fed in through one'of the hollow shafts from a reservoir such as 49; it may be fed in with the Vcharging tube, as just described, or it'm'ay be inserted in the form of a cartridge while the mechanism stands in the position of Fig.- 5.

In the first twomethods of charging the parts will stand in the Aposition of Fig. 3. In the third method ofcharging the rammer head 2l will be retracted, thev piston rod 77 will be rotated by any suitable means to bring the shell 56 into alinement with the heads 58. It will be understood that at this time the heads are cooled, and in their cooled,

condition will be advanced by rotating the wheels 68 so that each end enters a corre-k creased by the use of higher speeds, and Vother Vadvantages can be secured with some materials'as has been demonstrated in practice.

Heat is applied at a proper ratel and-the volatile products pass voff through one or both of ther hollow shafts',- according to whether one or both of the lreceptacles 49 and 55 be equipped with off-takes. Condens-V able vaporsare condensed in the coils 53, as

described.- Non-condensable gases are putl to any appro-priate use.y vFor example, they maybe collected and used iinheating the -chamber 1l, but the means for accomplishing this result is not illustrated, as it is a familiar expedient in this art.

During thedistilling operation with liquids, particularly toward the end, there is a tendency for violent foamingto-occur, vbe.- cause of the rapid evolution of gases and vapors. This tendency is almost entirely suppressed by centrifugal force, thus allowing the more rapid application of heat.

From this it results that the process is more expeditiously carried out, and thefinal coke product is more uniform and of a finer grainand more solid texture, than hasheretofore been secured. d v

The application of heat'is continued until substantially. all vthe Ivolatile materials have passed olf and the cokeresidue shrinks away froml th-e shell 56. vAt this time the rotation is stopped, the shafts areturnedto the proper position to permit entry of the connectors 72 into the ports 7l, the connectors are advanced into contact, and the cooling liquid is turned on. This shrinks the `heads away from th-e shell. Ator about the same time, the hoist is elevated until the cradle 78 engages the shell 56. As soon asthe heads have shrunk theyare retractedfby rotating the hand wheel 68.A After this, piston rod 77 is rotated until .the shell 56 stands in alinement with the extensions 16 and 17. The door 18 is then opened and the rammer 2l is pushed through the shell 56 to discharge thefcoke residue. This having beendone, thedevice is recharged, andthe operation repeated.

f1 As stated, only the essential elements o-f theV ordinary mechanical skill. Furthermore, the

vexact mechanisms illustrated-need not be adhered to but are susceptible of variation witho-ut departing from the invention.` -In fact tain circumstances, other special arrangements may be availed of. The shafts, heads, shell, and all other parts subject to severe heat, may be, andpreferably are, constructed -of special alloys chosen for the purpose. What is claimed is,- n y,

l. The combination of a furnace chamber.; a cylindrical shell .therein having. open ends; a pair of head members for closing said ends ios Y120 with certainfspecial materials and under cerended shell; at least one removable'head movable into and out of'sealing engagement with said shell; and means attached to said ends forsupporting and for .rotating said heads and the shell supported thereby. IV

2. rIhe combination-of a furnace chamber; a substantially horizontal open-ended cylindrical .shell ther-ein; a pair of head members movable intoand out of sealing engagement with the open ends of said shell; and means connected to said heads for rotating the same vand the shell supported thereby on a substantially horizontal axis. l

. 3. The combination of a furnace chamber; an open-ended cylindrical shell therein; a pair of head members movable into and out of sealing engagement with said shell; means connected to said heads for rotating the same Vand the shell supported thereby when the heads are in engagement therewith; secondary means for supporting saidY shell when said head` members ar-e retracted; and means for ejecting solids from said shell while supported by said secondary means.,

` 4. Thegcombina-tion with a furnace chamber of a pair of heads rotatably mounted therein; a cylindrical shell adapted to make a shrink fit with said heads when the heads and 'shell .are at equal temperatures, said heads, during the interval of the heating operation, supporting said shell; means for establishing a temperature differential -between said heads and shell; and means for withdrawing said vheads from said shell.

"5. In combination with a furnace chamber of a pair of heads rotatably mounted therein; a cylindrical shell encircling said heads adjacent its ends so as to be supported thereby and making'a 'shrink'fit with said heads when the heads and shell are'at equal temperatures;

Vmeans for cooling said heads while the shell remains heated; and means for withdrawing said heads from the shell while so cooled. v

6. In a retort; the combination of an openended shell; at least one removable head therefor with which the shellvmakes a shrink t when the two are at equal temperatures;

and means for establishing atemperature diff ferential between the head and shell, mit withdrawal of the head.

7. In a retort, the combination of an opento pertherefor adapted to fit into the open end of said shell and to make a shrink fit therewith when-the head andshell are at substantiallyv ducting passage; means for rotating said retort at a speedat least sufficient to distribute the fluent material by 'centrifugal force` inwhen the. latter is a substantially uniform layer over the -Walls of the retort; and means to feed fiuentmaterial to the retortthrough a passage in one of the shafts. V

V9. A device for treating fluent material,

Vcomprising in combination a'furnace chamber; a retort 1n said chamber; shafts upon which said retort is rotatably supported,at least 'one of said shafts having a fluid conducting passage; means for rotating said retort at a speed at least sufficient to distribute the fluent material by centrifugal force in a substantially uniform layer over the walls of the. retort; and means to condense vapors flowing-from the retort through a passage inl one of the shafts.

l0. A device for treating fluent material, comprising in combination a furnace chamber; la retort in said chamber; shafts upon which said Vretort is vrotatably supported, at 9'- 'leastone of said shafts having a fluid conducting passage; means for rotating said retort at a speed at least sufficientto distribute thefiuent material by centrifugal force in a Vsubstantially uniform layer over the walls'A of the retort; means` to feed fluent material to the retort througha passage in a shaft;

Vand means to condensevapors fiowing from the retort through a passage in one of the said relative movementof the heads; a supporting device movable into supporting relation with the shell and rotatable to shift the shell into and out of alinement with said heads when the latter are withdrawn; and means associated with said furnace chamber for discharging solid residues from said shell said heads. Y s Y 12,. The combination of a furnace chamber; a pair of heads mounted in 'said chamber to rotate on alined horizontal axes respectively and to be vmovable relatively toward and from each other; an open-ended substantially cylindrical shell with whichsaid heads enter into and withdraw from supporting and sealing engagement by the relative movement of the; heads; a supporting member movable into and out of supporting relation with the shell and upon which the shell is rotatable to shift the shell into and out of alinement withI said heads; and means associated with said furnace chamber for discharging solid residues from the shell whenthe latteris shifted from alinement with said heads.

13. The combination of a furnace chamber; a pairfof hollow vheads mounted in said chamshifted from alinement with ber to rotate on alined horizontal axes respectively and to be shiftable axially toward and from each other; an open-ended substantially cylindrical shell which encircles said heads and forms a shrink t therewith when the heads and shell are at substantially equal temperatures; said heads during the interval of the heating operation forming a support for the cylindrical shell; means for circulating cooling fluid through said heads toshrink thesame free from said shell; a supporting device movable into and out of supporting relation with the shell and rotatable to shift the shell into and out of alinement with the heads when the latter are retracted; and means for discharging solid residues from the shell when the latter is moved out of alinement with said heads.

14. In combination with a furnace chamber, a cylindrical shell located therein; a pair of heads also located within said chamber and fitting the ends of the shell; means for rotating at least one of said heads; and means lo- `cated beneath the shell and Within the chamber for contacting the shell and supporting the same.

l5. In combination with a furnace chamber having laterally disposed aligned eXtensions, a cylindrical shell mounted within the chamber; a pair of heads likewise Within the chamber and fitting the ends ofthe shell; means for rotating at least one of said heads and thereby imparting rotary motion to the shell and means located within the lower portion of said chamber for supporting the shell when the same is at rest, said means being movable toward and from the shell and rotatable about a vertical aXis whereby the shell may be swung laterally when the heads are withdrawn from engagement therewith.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

IRA H. DERBY.

CERTLMCATE or conREcTioN.

Patent No. 1,870, 901. August 9, 1932.

mA H. DERBY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification ofthe above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 4, line 3, claim l, for "ends" read heads; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the same may conform to the record ofthe case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 22nd day of November, A. D. 1932.

M. J. Moore,Y (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

